Foldable fortable stage assembly and origami set

ABSTRACT

A stage and origami assembly provides at least one origami object and a stage assembly upon which the origami object is connectable. The stage assembly includes a base tray and a stage insert removably insertable therein. The stage insert provides a stage surface having an origami object slit into which an origami object tab of the origami object can be inserted to connect the origami object. The stage assembly may also have a rear wall and backdrop section, both releasably connectable to the base tray and storable therein when disconnected therefrom. An upper floor insert, connectable to the rear wall and backdrop section and storable in the base tray, provides further origami object slits for the origami objects.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Benefit of U.S. Provisional Application for Patent Ser. No. 60/901,335,filed on Feb. 15, 2007, is hereby claimed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to origami and is more particularlyconcerned with a portable stage and origami assembly in which an origamiobject may be placed on a stage assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Kits and assemblies for Origami, or the art of creating objects byfolding materials, such as paper, cardboard, or the like is well knownin art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,878,638, issued to Benjamin on Apr.22, 1975, teaches a foldable origami set having a sheet of foldablematerial having a plurality of paired indicia, such as numbers, set outa pre-selected locations on the sheet. The indicia are sequentiallycoded such that, by folding the sheet of foldable material such thateach member of each pair is brought into contact with the other memberof each pair in the sequence indicated, a desired origami object isassembled.

Unfortunately, while such conventional origami sets allow for creatingof individual origami objects, such as representations of figures ofpeople, animals, or objects assembled made by folding a foldablematerial, the conventional origami sets do not provide largerstructures, such as representations of stages or houses, in which theorigami objects may be displayed or played with. While objects such asconventional dollhouses or stages for toy figurines may be deployed forsuch purposes, they are often heavy and bulky. Further, conventionalstages for figurines and dollhouses often consume a disproportionateamount of space relative the origami objects, especially when theorigami objects are unfolded. Accordingly, structures such asconventional stages for figurines and dollhouses may be cumbersome totransport, especially compared to the origami objects. Further, it maybe difficult to secure the origami objects to such structures.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved stage and origami assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide animproved stage and origami assembly.

An advantage of the present invention is that the stage and origamiassembly is made of light weight foldable material and can be easilytransported.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the stage and origamiassembly can be easily assembled, as well as easily disassembled foreasy transport.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the origami objectscan be easily secured to the stage assembly.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the origami objectscan be secured to the stage assembly such that the stage assembly may betransported when assembled with origami objects secured thereupon.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided astage and origami assembly comprising:

-   -   at least one origami object of a first foldable material, each        origami object having at least one origami object tab extending        therefrom; and    -   a stage assembly of one of the first foldable material and a        second foldable material, the stage assembly comprising:        -   a hollow base tray having a planar base surface with a            plurality of tray walls extending vertically therefrom; and        -   a stage insert having a planar stage surface with a            plurality of stage walls extending vertically therefrom, the            stage insert being removably insertable into the base tray            with the stage surface extending above the base surface, the            stage surface having at least one origami object slit into            which the origami object tab may be inserted to removably            and securely connect the origami object to the stage            section.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a careful reading of the detailed description providedherein, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will becomebetter understood with reference to the description in association withthe following Figures, in which similar references used in differentFigures denote similar components, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stage assembly andorigami set in accordance with the present invention in a disassembledconfiguration therefor; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stage assembly and origami set shownin FIG. 1 in an assembled configuration therefore.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention will be herein described for indicative purpose and byno means as of limitation.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of astage and origami assembly, shown generally as 10, in a dissembledconfiguration therefor, shown generally as 12. FIG. 2 shows the assembly10 in an assembled configuration therefor, shown generally as 14. Theassembly 10 consists of at least one origami object 16 and a stageassembly, shown generally as 18 upon or within which the origami object16 is connectable or otherwise placeable. The origami object 16 andstage assembly 18 are typically made of a flexible and foldablematerial, such as paper, cardboard, flexible plastic or the like.Further, the origami object 16 may be made of one foldable materialwhereas the stage assembly 18 may be constructed of the same or adifferent foldable material. The origami object 16 is, as is well knownin the art, folded from an unfolded configuration into a foldedconfiguration to form the object 16.

The stage assembly 18 includes a hollow base tray 20, a stage insert 22,a rear insert 24, a foldable backdrop wall 26, an upper floor insert 28,which can be releasably connected together from the dissembledconfiguration 12 into the into assembled configuration 14, in which thestage assembly 18 may be transported by supporting, for examplecarrying, the tray 20 with the remaining components 16, 22, 24, 26, 28either seated therein or supported thereby and extending thereabove. Thecomponents 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 are further configured, i.e. sized andshaped, such that when they are not connected, components 16, 20, 22,24, 26, 28 will fit more or less entirely within the tray 20 and acover, not shown, may be placed over the tray 20 to completely containthe stage assembly 18 and the objects 16, thus facilitating compactstorage and carriage of the set 10.

The base tray 20 has a planar base surface 30 with generally opposed,first and second tray walls, respectively 32 a, 32 b, as well asgenerally opposed third and fourth tray walls, respectively 34 a, 34 bextending between the first and second tray walls 32 a, 32 b andconnected thereto. The tray walls 32, 34 extend outwardly andsubstantially perpendicularly away from the base surface 30. The firstand second tray walls 32 a, 32 b are, preferably, parallel one another,as are the third and fourth tray walls 34 a, 34 b. In general, when theassembly 18 is in the assembled configuration 14, the stage insert 22,rear insert 24, and backdrop wall 26 will all be at least partiallyinserted into the tray 20 and will be supported thereon, with the upperfloor insert being connected to the rear insert 24 and backdrop wall 26.The origami objects 16 can also be connected to the stage insert 22 orthe upper floor insert 28 when the assembly 18 is in the assembledconfiguration 14. Thus, the assembly 18 in the assembled configuration18 can be displaced, along with the origami objects 16 connected theretoby grasping the tray 20 and carrying the assembly 18 with the remainingcomponents 16, 22, 24, 26, 28 extending thereabove and supportedthereby.

When the assembly 18 is placed in the assembled configuration 14, thestage insert 22 is inserted, i.e. seated, in the base tray 20. The stageinsert 22 has a planar stage surface 38 and generally opposed first andsecond stage walls 30 with generally opposed, first and second stagewalls, respectively 40 a, 40 b, as well as generally opposed third andfourth stage walls, respectively 42 a, 42 b extending between the firstand second stage walls 40 a, 40 b and connected thereto. The stage walls40, 42 extend outwardly and substantially perpendicularly away from thestage surface 38. The first and second stage walls 40 a, 40 b are,preferably, parallel one another, as are the third and fourth stagewalls 42 a, 42 b. The stage walls 40, 42 and stage surface 38 areconfigured such that the third and fourth stage walls 42 aresubstantially of the same length as the third and fourth tray walls 34,whereas the first and second stage walls 40 are shorter in length thanthe first and second tray walls 34. Accordingly, the stage insert 22 isreleasably, i.e. removably, and securely insertable into the tray 20with the stage surface 38, supported by the stage walls 40, 42,extending above the base surface 30 and with the first and second stagewalls 40 a, 40 b extending proximally adjacent, and preferably abutting,the first and second tray walls 32 a, 32 b and with the third and fourthstage walls 42 a, 42 b spaced apart from the third and fourth tray walls34 a, 34 b.

The rear insert 24 has a rear wall 44, with a rear wall aperture 60extending through a portion thereof, and two hollow support legs 46,having respective generally opposed first leg ends 48 a and second legends 48 b with leg apertures 50 therein. The support legs 36 form or aredepicted as columns for the stage insert 22, The rear wall 44 extendsbetween the support legs 46 which protrude outwardly away from, andpreferably substantially perpendicularly to, the rear wall 44. The rearinsert 24 is configured, i.e. sized and shaped, for insertion into thetray 20, along with the stage insert 22, such that the first end 48 a ofone leg 46 fits into a space 52 extending between and abuts the spacedapart third stage wall 42 c and third tray wall 34 c and the first end48 a of the other leg 46 fits into the space 52 extending between andabuts the spaced-part fourth stage wall 42 d and fourth tray wall 34 d,with the rear wall 44 extending adjacently between, and preferablyabutting, the first tray wall 32 a and the first stage wall 40 a.Accordingly, the rear insert 24 is retained in the tray 20 by the firstends 48 of the legs 46 abutting either the third tray 34 a and stagewalls 34 a, 42 a or the fourth tray and stage walls 34 b, 42 b and therear wall 44 extending between with the first stage and tray walls. 32a, 40 a. The stage surface 38 generally has at least one origami objectslit 54 configured for secure insertion thereinto of an origami objecttab 56 extending from the origami object 16 when assembled, thuspermitting the origami object 16 to be securely connected to the stagesurface 38. The upper floor insert 28 may also have such origami objectslits 54.

The backdrop wall 26 forms a backdrop, a backdrop protruding portion,shown generally as 58, of which protrudes outwardly away from the firsttray wall 32 a and is at least partially visible through the rear wallaperture 60 when the assembly 18 is in the assembled configuration 14.The backdrop wall 26 is defined by generally opposed first and secondedges, respectively 70 a, 70 b, which intersect generally opposed thirdand fourth edges 72 a, 72 b. Further, the backdrop wall 26 has foldablefirst and second outer creases 74 a, 74 b extending from the first edge70 a to the second edge 70 b and foldable first and second inner creases76 a, 76 b, also extending from the first edge 70 a to the second edge70 b. The backdrop wall 26 is, accordingly, foldable along the creases72, 74, into first and second outer backdrop portions 78 a, 78 b, firstand second intermediate backdrop portions 80 a, 80 b, and a centralbackdrop portion 82. The first outer backdrop portion 78 a extendsbetween the third edge 72 a to the first outer crease 74 a, while thesecond outer backdrop portion 78 b extends between the fourth edge 72 bto the second outer crease 74 b. The first intermediate backdrop portion80 a extends from the first outer crease 74 a to the first inner crease76 a and the second intermediate backdrop portion 80 b extends from thesecond outer crease 74 b to the inner second inner crease 76 b. Thecentral portion extends between creases 76 a and 76 b.

The backdrop wall 26 is connectable to the tray 20 and the second ends48 b of the support legs 46. Specifically, the backdrop wall 26 has apair of foldable lower tabs 84 extending to the first edge 70 andfoldable outwardly away from the backdrop wall 26 that are releasably,i.e. removably, insertable into the tray 20 between, and generallyabutting with, the first leg ends 48 a and the first tray wall 32 a forretaining the backdrop wall 26 in the tray 20 in proximity to the firstedge 70. Similarly, the backdrop wall 26 also has a pair of foldableupper tabs 86 foldable outwardly away from the backdrop wall 26 andpositioned intermediate the first and second edges 70 a, 70 b forremovable insertion into the second leg ends 48 b, and specifically theapertures 50 situated thereat, for retaining the backdrop wall 26 inproximity to the second edge 70 b thereof. One upper tab 84 a and onelower tab 86 a are situated in the first outer backdrop portion 78 abetween the first outer crease 74 a, generally extending partiallytherealong, and the third edge 72 a, whereas the other upper tab 84 aand lower tab 86 a are situated in the second outer backdrop portion 78b between the second outer crease 76 a, generally extending partiallytherealong, and the fourth edge 72 b. Thus, when the upper tabs 86 areinserted into the second leg ends 48 and the lower tabs 84 are insertedinto the tray 20, as described, and the two intermediate portions 80 arefolded extending away from the first tray wall 32 a, the intermediateportions 80 and the central portion 82, situated between theintermediate portions 80, form the protruding backdrop section 58protruding outwardly away from the first tray wall 32.

When the stage assembly 18 is in the assembled configuration 14, theupper floor insert 28 is connected to the backdrop wall 26 and thesecond leg ends 48 b of the support legs 46. The upper floor insert 28consists of a planar upper floor surface 90 defined by a plurality ofupper floor edges or sides 92. The floor surface may, optionally, haveorigami object slits 54, for receiving origami object tabs 56 forattaching the origami object to the floor surface 90. The floor insert28 has two foldable floor insert tabs 94 extending from two generallyopposed upper floor sides 92 a, 92 b and at least one floor backdrop tab96 extending planarly outwardly from an upper floor edge 92 c situatedgenerally intermediate floor sides 92 a, 92 b. The floor insert tabs 94and floor backdrop tab 96 are configured such that the floor insert tabs94 are foldable and releasably, i.e. removably, insertable into theapertures 50 at the second leg ends 48 b with the floor backdrop tab 96being, at the same time, removably insertable into a backdrop slit 100,situated between the inner creases 76. Thus, the floor insert 28 isreleasably, i.e. removably, connectable, for the assembled configuration14, to the second leg ends 48 b and the backdrop wall 26, with the upperfloor surface 90 extending over the stage surface 38. Further, the floorsides 92 a, 92 b, 92 c are configured, i.e. sized and shaped, such thatthey mate, i.e. intersect, with the inner backdrop portions 80 andcentral backdrop portion 90, and therefore the backdrop protrudingportion 58, when the floor insert 28 is connected to the second leg ends48 b and the backdrop wall 26.

Although the present stage and origami assembly has been described witha certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that thedisclosure has been made by way of example only and that the presentinvention is not limited to the features of the embodiments describedand illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modificationswithin the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

We claim:
 1. A stage and origami assembly comprising: at least oneorigami object of a first foldable material, each origami object havingat least one origami object tab extending therefrom; and a stageassembly of one of said first foldable material and a second foldablematerial, said stage assembly comprising: a hollow base tray having aplanar base surface with a plurality of tray walls extending verticallytherefrom; and a stage insert having a planar stage surface with aplurality of stage walls extending vertically therefrom, said stageinsert being removably insertable into said base tray with said stagesurface extending above said base surface, said stage surface having atleast one origami object slit into which said origami object tab may beinserted to removably and securely connect said origami object to saidstage section.
 2. The stage and origami assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid plurality of tray walls comprises generally opposed first andsecond tray walls and said plurality of stage walls comprises generallyopposed first and second stage walls, said first and second stage wallsextending respectively proximally adjacent said first and second traywalls when said tray insert is inserted into said base tray.
 3. Thestage and origami assembly of claim 2, wherein said stage assemblyfurther comprises a rear insert having a rear wall, said rear insertbeing releasably connectable to the tray section with said rear wallextending proximally adjacent thereto and storable in said base traywhen disconnected therefrom.
 4. The stage and origami assembly of claim3, wherein said rear wall extends between and proximally adjacent tosaid first tray wall and said first stage wall and in retaining abutmenttherewith when said rear insert is inserted into said tray, therebyenabling releasable connection of said rear insert to said tray.
 5. Thestage and origami assembly of claim 4, wherein said plurality of traywalls further comprises generally opposed third and fourth tray wallsextending away from said base surface between said first and second traywalls and connected thereto and said plurality of stage walls comprisesgenerally opposed third and fourth tray walls extending away from saidstage surface between said first and second stage walls and connectedthereto.
 6. The stage and origami assembly of claim 5, wherein saidthird and fourth stage walls are respectively substantially parallel tosaid third and fourth stage walls and spaced apart therefrom.
 7. Thestage and origami assembly of claim 5, wherein said rear insert furthercomprises two hollow support legs having generally opposed respectivefirst and second support leg ends and protruding outwardly from saidrear wall which is connected thereto.
 8. The stage and origami assemblyof claim 7, wherein, when said rear insert is inserted into said tray,said respective first end of one said support leg extends between andabuts said third tray wall and said third stage wall and said respectivefirst end of said other support leg extends between and abuts the fourthtray wall and fourth stage with said rear wall extending between saidfirst tray wall and said first stage wall.
 9. The stage and origamiassembly of claim 8, wherein said stage assembly further comprises afoldable backdrop wall defined by generally opposed first and secondedges intersecting generally opposed third and fourth edges thereof,said backdrop wall being releasably connectable to said base tray andstorable in said base tray when disconnected therefrom.
 10. The stageand origami assembly of claim 9, wherein said foldable backdrop furthercomprises first and second foldable outer creases extending from saidfirst and second edges and first and second foldable inner creasesextending from said first and second edges and situated between said twofoldable outer creases, said backdrop wall being foldable along saidinner and outer creases to form a protruding backdrop portion thereofprotruding outwardly from said first tray wall when said backdrop isconnected to said base tray.
 11. The stage and origami assembly of claim10, wherein said foldable backdrop wall further comprises a pair offoldable lower tabs extending to said first edge and foldable outwardlyaway from said backdrop wall, a pair of foldable upper tabs foldableextendable outwardly away from said backdrop wall and situatedintermediate said first and second backdrop edges, one foldable uppertab and one foldable lower tab being situated between said first outercrease and said third edge and said other foldable upper tab andfoldable lower tab situated between said second outer crease and saidfourth edge, said lower foldable tabs, and said upper foldable tabsbeing configured for insertion of each foldable lower tab inserted intosaid tray between one of said support legs and said first tray wall andin abutment therewith and insertion of each foldable upper tab into oneof said support legs at said respective second support leg end thereofto releasably connect said backdrop wall to said tray section.
 12. Thestage and origami assembly of claim 10, wherein said foldable backdropwall further comprises at least one backdrop slit disposed thereinbetween said foldable inner creases.
 13. The stage and origami assemblyof claim 12, wherein said stage assembly further comprises an upperfloor insert comprising a planar upper floor surface, said upper floorsurface insert being releasably connectable to said backdrop wall and tosaid support legs with said upper floor surface extending above saidstage surface, said upper floor insert being storable in said base traywhen disconnected from said backdrop wall and to said support legs. 14.The stage and origami assembly of claim 13, wherein said upper floorinsert comprises at least one upper origami object slit disposed withinsaid upper floor surface and into which said origami object tab may beinserted to removably and securely connect said origami object to saidsupper floor surface.
 15. The stage and origami assembly of claim 13,wherein said upper floor insert has first and second generally opposedfloor sides and a third floor side extending from said first floor sideto said second floor side, said first and said second floor side eachhaving side a respective foldable floor insert tab extending therefromand said third side having at least one floor backdrop tab extendingplanarly outwardly therefrom, said floor backdrop tab being insertableinto said backdrop slit and each respective floor insert tab beinginsertable into the respective second support leg end of one of thesupport legs to releasably the upper floor insert to said backdrop walland said support legs.
 16. The stage and origami assembly of claim 1,wherein said stage assembly further comprises a foldable backdrop walldefined by generally opposed first and second edges intersectinggenerally opposed third and fourth edges thereof, said backdrop wallbeing releasably connectable to said base tray and storable in said basetray when disconnected therefrom.
 17. The stage and origami assembly ofclaim 16, wherein said foldable backdrop further comprises first andsecond foldable outer creases extending from said first and second edgesand first and second foldable inner creases extending from said firstand second edges and situated between said two foldable outer creases,said backdrop wall being foldable along said inner and outer creases toform a protruding backdrop portion thereof protruding outwardly fromsaid first tray wall when said backdrop is connected to said base tray.18. The stage and origami assembly of claim 17, wherein said foldablebackdrop wall further comprises at least one backdrop slit disposedtherein between said foldable inner creases.